White's Directory of Nottinghamshire, 1853

Kneesall, Kersall and Ompton

Kneesall Parish comprises the three lordships of Kneesall, Kersall and Ompton, the latter of which is in the South Clay division of the Bassetlaw Hundred.

Kneesall is a considerable village, situated on a gentle declivity on the Newark and Ollerton Road, nine miles north-north-west of the former, and four miles east-south-east of the latter, and has within a few years been considerably improved by the building and rebuilding of several neat houses. It contains 382 inhabitants and 2,197a 0r 28p of land, of the rateable value of £1,993 13s 6d. Earl Manvers is the lord of the manor and owner, with the exception of about 50 acres in small freeholds, and a small portion of copyhold held under the Chapter of Southwell, on small certain fines, and a court is held at Michaelmas.

The church, dedicated to St Bartholomew, is a vicarage, valued in the King's books at £10, now £150 10s 0d, having been augmented by a grant from Queen Anne's Bounty, and has a curacy of Boughton annexed. It is in the patronage and appropriation of the Chapter of Southwell, under whom Earl Manvers is lessee, and the Rev. John Chell A.B. is the incumbent. The church is an ancient structure with nave, chancel, side aisles, tower and tree bells, and is about to undergo considerable repairs. In 1842, Earl Manvers erected a neat school here, which is supported by voluntary contribution, and is open to the children of Kneesall, Kersall and Ompton, who are educated on the payment of twopence each per week. In 1798, Earl Manvers erected a lofty cross in the village, which was taken down a few years ago, and the hill on which it stood levelled. The tithes of Kneesal and Ompton were commuted in 1843 for £600 4s, viz. £483 for Kneesal and £117 4s for Ompton.

There was a Wood in this place called Hertshorn, held by Richard Markham and William Sutton, of William Lacy, for a sparrowhawk and two shillings yearly. The church here was given by some of the first constables of Chester, to the priory of Norton in Cheshire, and the manor had previously been given by John Constable, of Chester, to the Knights Hospitallers of St John of Jerusalem. This John is said to have been in the Holy Land in 1183. After various changes it was granted 5 Edw. VI to Edward Fiennes, Lord Clinton and Say. Afterwards it came into the Pierrepont family, and Robert, Earl of Kingston, had it.

Kersall township, 1½ miles south-east of Kneesall, contains a small hamlet of scattered houses, having 100 inhabitants and 653a 1r 21p of land belonging to several proprietors. Kersall Lodge, a neat house, is the property of Mr John Mosely. Mr William Mosely owns about 200 acres, with a good residence. S.E. Brestowe Esq and Mr G. Doncaster are owners. At the enclosure in 1778, 92 acres of land were awarded in lieu of tithes, of which Earl Manvers is lessee, under the Chapter of Southwell. The Duke of Newcastle is lord of the manor, under the Duchy Court of Lancaster.

Ompton, or Almpton, is a small village and township, situated in the South Clay division of the Bassetlaw Hundred, and on the Newark Road, three miles east-south-east of Ollerton. it contains 109 inhabitants and 611a 1r 27p of land, including roads, belonging to the Earl of Scarborough. In the Domesday Book it is called Almentune, and represented as soc to several manors, but most of it was subsequently given to the monastery of Rufford, with a small payment of 6s to the prior of Lenton. With Rufford, it became the inheritance of the heirs of Viscount Halifax, of the Savile family. Earl Manvers is lord of the manor, and lessee of the great tithe, under the Chapter of Southwell.

[Transcribed by Clive Henly]